DELTA — Burns Bog Conservation Society President Eliza Olson fears the $30-million interchange the province is building at Highway 91 and 72nd Avenue in Delta might sink.
Olson claims parts of South Fraser Perimeter Road already are sinking but Delta Mayor Lois Jackson said “any road anywhere has the possibility of shifting. I’m not worried about that.”
B.C. Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced the interchange project Wednesday morning.
Jackson said it’s going to be “a great help,” once completed.
Olson, meantime, said the project will change the ecology of the nearby nature reserve and Cougar Creek.
Jackson is skeptical.
“How on Earth would that possibly be? They are not intruding on the bog at all.”
Said Olson, “I have concerns about building on bog land and its long-term stability,” she said. “This is a complete disregard for the health and future of not only Burns Bog but the community.
“It seems as though our federal, provincial and local governments have gone crazy.”
During peak hours, the Alex Fraser Bridge exceeds capacity and results in delays up to 30 minutes. There are waits of two to three hours when there’s a crash.
“We need to get going on a fix,” said Stone. “This is why we’ve kicked in an extra $10 million to move forward on a new interchange.”
Construction is set to begin this fall.
An Alex Fraser Bridge counterflow lane is also being studied, according to the province.
An information session is set for June 23 from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at North Delta rec centre (11415 84th Ave.).